Long Neptune Strike: Ukraine’s New Cruise Missile Cripples Russian Warships in Novorossiysk — SkimNews
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- Ukrainian Naval forces launched Long Neptune cruise missiles on September 9th, striking the Russian frigates Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov and a Buyan-M class corvette in Novorossiysk harbor.
- Exilenova+ published satellite imagery confirming damage to three Russian vessels, with the Buyan-M suffering severe structural collapse and fire damage aft of the superstructure.
- Project 11356R Grigorovich-class frigates sustained moderate to severe damage near their VLS cell banks and forward superstructures, likely disabling their surface-to-air and surface-to-surface weapon systems.
- Luch Design Bureau developed the Long Neptune as an extended-range variant of the R-360 Neptune, increasing its reach beyond 500 kilometers through enlarged airframe and added fuel tanks, entering service in late 2025.
- Russian Black Sea Fleet now has only 8 of 17 Kalibr-capable vessels still operational, with 6 of 9 surface missile carriers damaged or out of service, including 2 Grigorovich-class frigates and 1 Buyan-M corvette.
Why it matters: Ukraine’s use of its domestically built Long Neptune missile to disable high-value naval targets proves it can project precision strike power over 400km without relying on Western weapons, reducing operational constraints and increasing pressure on Russia’s dwindling Black Sea Fleet capabilities.
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